Benjamin Franklin was the representative of Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention. Pennsylvania, founded by William Penn, was originally occupied by mostly Quakers, and was a state that was very tolerant of religion, and strongly believed in political equality. The land itself was very fertile and located near the Atlantic. Due to this geography, the economy of Pennsylvania did well, and was a place many people wanted to live in.
Occupation and Background
Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706, and was the tenth son of a soap and candle maker. Though mostly self educated, he was extremely intelligent and witty. Franklin started as an apprentice to his fater from ages ten to twelve, and then worked for his brother James for some time. After not getting along well with his brother, Franklin moved to Philadelphia and became a printer for about a year. He later published the Pennsylvania Gazette and Poor Richard's Almanac. By 1730, Franklin had a wife who soon had his children, and he then achieved finacial independence in 1748.
Ben had many occupations thoughout his lifetime, but in the years before the Constitutional Convention and his death, he held some particularly important postitions. In 1785, Franklin became president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, and he represented the state in the convention, despite his dwindling health. Later he began working on his Autobiography, and was then elected the frist president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slaver, which was a cause he believed in very strongly.
The Constitutional Convention
Though Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old and growing ill at the time, he was there for most, if not all of the sessions. While he did not say too much when it came to aruguments, he did help with compromising disputes. One of his major contributions was helping with the "Great Compromise," which included a House of Representatives with respresentation based on population, and a Senate in which all states get two senators. He also wrote a speech in attempt to convince and encourage delagates to sign the constitution. He also like to start the mornings with prayer and is well known for his Rising Sun speech at the end of the convention.
States Ratifying Convention
Pennsylvania was very quick to ratify the constitution, being the second state to ratify. They made sure that their message when ratifying was short and to the point, basically saying they all agreed to the Constituiton and were sticking to it. Though it is seemingly not signed by Franklin, it was signed by many Pennsylvania delegates and Franklin did approve of the Constitution.
Constitution Arguments
Ben Franklin believed that a "general government" was necessary for the survival of the country although there may have been some flaws in the Constitution. Also, he thought that they made the best Constitution they could possibly make because they had the best men who gave their opinions freely, and would make the best choices. Also, at Franklin's old age, he was beginning to trust other's opinions more and more than his own, and he respected them, so he felt no need to argue to much. Any opposistions that Franklin had were the anti federalists including Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee.
Dudley, William. The Creation of the Constitution: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 1995. Print.
"Individual Biographies of the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention by Gordon Lloyd and Jeff Sammon." TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/.
"Pennsylvania's Ratification - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. http://www.usconstitution.net/rat_pa.html.
Benjamin Franklin
Position: Federalist
Pennsylvania Representative:
Benjamin Franklin was the representative of Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention. Pennsylvania, founded by William Penn, was originally occupied by mostly Quakers, and was a state that was very tolerant of religion, and strongly believed in political equality. The land itself was very fertile and located near the Atlantic. Due to this geography, the economy of Pennsylvania did well, and was a place many people wanted to live in.
Occupation and Background
Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706, and was the tenth son of a soap and candle maker. Though mostly self educated, he was extremely intelligent and witty. Franklin started as an apprentice to his fater from ages ten to twelve, and then worked for his brother James for some time. After not getting along well with his brother, Franklin moved to Philadelphia and became a printer for about a year. He later published the Pennsylvania Gazette and Poor Richard's Almanac. By 1730, Franklin had a wife who soon had his children, and he then achieved finacial independence in 1748.
Ben had many occupations thoughout his lifetime, but in the years before the Constitutional Convention and his death, he held some particularly important postitions. In 1785, Franklin became president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, and he represented the state in the convention, despite his dwindling health. Later he began working on his Autobiography, and was then elected the frist president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slaver, which was a cause he believed in very strongly.
The Constitutional Convention
Though Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old and growing ill at the time, he was there for most, if not all of the sessions. While he did not say too much when it came to aruguments, he did help with compromising disputes. One of his major contributions was helping with the "Great Compromise," which included a House of Representatives with respresentation based on population, and a Senate in which all states get two senators. He also wrote a speech in attempt to convince and encourage delagates to sign the constitution. He also like to start the mornings with prayer and is well known for his Rising Sun speech at the end of the convention.
States Ratifying Convention
Pennsylvania was very quick to ratify the constitution, being the second state to ratify. They made sure that their message when ratifying was short and to the point, basically saying they all agreed to the Constituiton and were sticking to it. Though it is seemingly not signed by Franklin, it was signed by many Pennsylvania delegates and Franklin did approve of the Constitution.
Constitution Arguments
Ben Franklin believed that a "general government" was necessary for the survival of the country although there may have been some flaws in the Constitution. Also, he thought that they made the best Constitution they could possibly make because they had the best men who gave their opinions freely, and would make the best choices. Also, at Franklin's old age, he was beginning to trust other's opinions more and more than his own, and he respected them, so he felt no need to argue to much. Any opposistions that Franklin had were the anti federalists including Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee.
Bibliography:
"America's Founding Fathers - Delegates to the Constitutional Convention." National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_founding_fathers_pennsylvania.html.
Dudley, William. The Creation of the Constitution: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 1995. Print.
"Individual Biographies of the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention by Gordon Lloyd and Jeff Sammon." TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/.
"Model Colony: Pennsylvania." The Middle Colonies. Web. 9 Feb. 2012. http://www.cerritos.edu/soliver/american%20identities/making%20british%20america/middle%20colonies.htm.
"Pennsylvania's Ratification - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. http://www.usconstitution.net/rat_pa.html.